Interactive retaining device

Abstract

In one embodiment, a retaining device is provided herein, the retaining device includes a body portion including at least a first planar cover member and a second planar cover member, each of the first and second planar cover members including an outer edge and an inner edge. The first and second planar cover members are associated with one another at each respective inner edge. The retaining device further includes a user interactive component associated with the body, wherein the user interactive component provides an output to a user of the retaining device. In another embodiment, a container having a plurality of walls and an interactive component providing an output to a user is provided. The outputs include sensory outputs such as visual, audio, scent emission and heat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retaining device, comprising:
 a body comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, each of said first and second portions comprising an outer edge and an inner edge, said first and second portions associated with one another at each respective inner edge;   a binding mechanism or a pocket or a combination thereof associated with the body; and   a user interactive component associated with the body, wherein said user interactive component provides an output to a user of the retaining device.   
     
     
         2 . The retaining device of  claim 1 , wherein said user interactive component comprises a visual display component. 
     
     
         3 . The retaining device of  claim 2 , wherein said visual display component comprises at least one of a light emitting diode (LED) and an electronic paper display device. 
     
     
         4 . The retaining device of  claim 1 , wherein said user interactive component comprises an audio component. 
     
     
         5 . The retaining device of  claim 1 , wherein the user interactive component comprises an audio component and a visual display component, wherein the audio and visual display components are configured to sequentially provide an output of a predetermined sequence to the user. 
     
     
         6 . The retaining device of  claim 1 , wherein said user interactive component comprises a scent emitting component. 
     
     
         7 . The retaining device of  claim 1 , wherein said user interactive component comprises a heating element and a scent emitting component. 
     
     
         8 . The retaining device of  claim 1 , further comprising a bridge member disposed between and in contact with the inner sides of the first and second portions of the device. 
     
     
         9 . A retaining device comprising a first planar cover member and a second planar cover member, each said first and second planar cover member comprising an outer surface, an inner surface, a proximal edge, a distal edge, a first end edge and a second end edge;
 a bridge member comprising a planar bridge body portion having a bridge inner surface, a bridge outer surface, a first bridge outer edge and a second bridge outer edge, wherein said first bridge outer edge associates with said first planar cover member proximal edge and said second bridge outer edge associates with said second planar member proximal edge;   a binding mechanism associated with the bridge inner surface, the first planar cover member inner surface or the second planar cover member inner surface, said binding mechanism comprising at least one binding member that moves from a released state to a binding state; and   a user interactive component associated with the retaining device.   
     
     
         10 . The retaining device of  claim 9 , wherein said user interactive component comprises a visual display component. 
     
     
         11 . The retaining device of  claim 10 , wherein said visual display component is disposed on the retaining device. 
     
     
         12 . The retaining device of  claim 10 , wherein said visual display component comprises at least one of a light emission diode (LED) and an electronic paper display. 
     
     
         13 . The retaining device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor to detect a condition of the device. 
     
     
         14 . The retaining device of  claim 13 , wherein an output of the device from the user interactive component is initiated in response to a predetermined value detected for a condition. 
     
     
         15 . The retaining device of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor is an orientation sensor, provided to detect an orientation of the device. 
     
     
         16 . The retaining device of  claim 15 , wherein an output of the user interactive component is initiated if the detected orientation meets a predetermined orientation. 
     
     
         17 . The retaining device of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor is an audio sensor, configured to detect an audio value within 1-12 inches of the device. 
     
     
         18 . The retaining device of  claim 17 , wherein an output of the user interactive component is initiated if the audio value meets a predetermined audio value. 
     
     
         19 . The retaining device of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor is a light sensor, configured to detect an exposure to a light source. 
     
     
         20 . The retaining device of  claim 19 , wherein an output of the user interactive component is initiated if exposure to a light source is detected. 
     
     
         21 . The retaining device of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor is a motion sensor, configured to detect movement of the retaining device or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The retaining device of  claim 21 , wherein an output of the user interactive component is initiated if a movement of the retaining device or a portion thereof is detected. 
     
     
         23 . The retaining device of  claim 9  wherein an expandable compartment is associated with at least one of the first cover member and the second cover member, said expandable compartment comprising at least a first wall portion and a second wall portion, said first and second wall portions spanning between a compartment outer cover and said first cover member and/or said second cover member, wherein said first and second wall portions, or a combination thereof, comprise supernumerary material so as to allow expansion of said compartment outer cover away from said first cover member and/or said second cover member outer surface. 
     
     
         24 - 45 . (canceled)